working with (for me) me materials (pic heavy)

[Mermaid Fenicia]

As I have many fabric tails, I always want to have a silicone tail, but ordering from out of Belgium is to costly for me (as specially post and taxes). Then I noticed PearlieMae's tail-making technique and asked her if I would use it to make my own tail and she said yes :) So in the autumn I started on collection everything I need to make my tail. Found mica-powders at a craft-fair, Dragonskin in a shop in the Netherlands, fabric in a shop nearby, ... and ordered a new (translucent) Triton-monofin online (as it's a European brand, no taxes and cheap shipping for me).
After New Year I started to make my molds out of thermo-plastics:
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- started testing my pigments:
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- after that I started to cast my scales:
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- when I had lost of them, my boyfriend helped to make my body-double:
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- that I covered in white lycra (as my white iridescent scales are see-through):
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- and started pinning my scales in place, the front first:
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- and gluing them with some clear silicone:
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- the back and sides:
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- and the top (skin-colored scales):
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After my boyfriends birthday-party (end of February) I started making my fluke:
- my pattern under a layer of saran-wrap and clear tape (the same as my body-double):
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- a layer of iridescent organza and 3 layers of colored dragonskin:
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- made 2 of them:
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- and sandwiched my yellow monofin in between them, gluing only the sides:
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- after that I attached the tail-body to the fluke:
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- after that I sealed the outside of my tail with a slime-coat (clear silicone with a lot of fine iridescent glitter:
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- then I sealed the inside of my tail with clear silicone:
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- then I decided that my clear monofin was better for this tail and sealed it in my fluke, leaving holes for drainage:
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- made some ribs for the side of my fluke:
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- attached them and trimmed the excess
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And this is how I store my tail (and also let it dry in the bathroom after swimming):
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[PearlieMae]

Such beautiful work! Congratulations!

Also, using the plastic tub lid for a mold is GENIUS!

[MerEmma]

WOW. The blending on the front of the yellow and clear and gold is all so seamless--BEAUTIFUL tail! I LOVE the heart scales!

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Thanks Pearly and Emma :) In the new year I'm going to make a new tail for my partner using the same molds and technique but in different colors: pink, purple and blue ;)

[Mermaid Tuwala]

That's so so beautiful! How has the tail held up?
Also I'm really confused as to how you turned your tail inside out to seal the inside after the fluke was attached?

[Mermaid Fenicia]

I've already swam 2 times and used it for several dry gigs and no problems with it. Turning it inside out wasn't a problem as it's quite thin and flexible and the monofin wasn't inside it jet.

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Started testing the colors for the new tail. These are the test with the powders with out mixing them up to create new ones. Also some are 2-tones. Top row is without glitter, bottom is with fine iridescent, clear glitter. ;)
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[Mermaid Fenicia]

Mixed some of the powders to create new colors ;)
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[WaterDragon]

the colors are looking good, do you have a sketch of what you want the color scheme to be?

[Mermaid Fenicia]

nope, as this tail is for a friend and she only know what colors she wants and still is looking for a design.still waiting on some glow-in-the-dark powder to arrive to stest it with these colors ;)

[Miyu]

Ooh I hadn't seen your first silicone tail, Fenicia - That's gorgeous! I love what you did with the fluke, I've been thinking that's what I'm going to do for my next fabric tail since I like the translucent fabric but want the durability/fishiness of silicone.

Ooh, these new colours are so pretty! :swoon:Those are pretty much mu favorite colours there, and of course I'm in love with anything glow-in-the-dark (I have determined that every tail I own after my first will have glow on it LOL)

Can't wait to see what you do! You're so creative!

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Glow-in-the-dark-pigment arrived and has been tested, but the blues are to green, the pinks are more orange and purple isn't glowing hard :( So we won't using them.
Tomorrow we will going to buy the buckets of silicon in Amsterdam, so I can start making scales for this new tail ;)

[WaterDragon]

Glow-in-the-dark-pigment arrived and has been tested, but the blues are to green, the pinks are more orange and purple isn't glowing hard :( So we won't using them.
Tomorrow we will going to buy the buckets of silicon in Amsterdam, so I can start making scales for this new tail ;)

Sadly Purple Glow in the dark pigments never seem to work well.

[Mermaid Wesley]

Beautiful as always!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Love the yellow hues! Its like sunshine!

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Thanks, Wesley & Jaffa :)

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Scale-making-factory has started again ;) iridescent white ;)
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[Mermaid Fenicia]

made 1 batch of all the colors that we going to use ;)
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iridescent white on the belly and the darkest blue on the sides ;)

[Mermaid Kalahari]

Beautiful color scheme!


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[PearlieMae]

Oooh! It looks like candy! Lovely colors!

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Thanks Reeniebikini and PearlieMae ;)

[Mermaid Kalahari]

Is there a certain amount of time after you make the scales before you have to glue them together? Or can you make a bunch of scales and wait a few months to glue them on the tail?


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[Mermaid Fenicia]

with dragonskin, you have to make your tail in the same month that your started making your scales.

[Karri3]

Looks great! Good job


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[Mermaid Fenicia]

THanks, Karri ;)

And the pinning has started ;)
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[Mermaid Fenicia]

Some more scales (hearts) are pinned ;)
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[WaterDragon]

the colors look so soft and pretty :)

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Thanks WaterDragon ;)

[Marinus Mortimer]

Um I'm no expert on scale pinning but from my perspective your doing it wrong, from what I can tell you pinning your scales horizontally like from center to side I know for a fact that it would look way better if you pinned them from the bottom going up that would give the scales the right look. I hope that I didn't offend anyone I'm just trying to help out so please have a long hard look and try to see what I see unless your doing this on porpoise Erich I doubt.


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[Mermaid Fenicia]

I know what I'm doing, this is just a placement to see how the colors work together. As soon as I have enough, I'll start gluing them from the bottom off ;)

[Marinus Mortimer]

I was just looking back at your thread and I was like she deff knows what I'm talking bout cause she did it right the first time and figured you were just placing them lol I was bout to delete my dum comment but it's to late lol I'm sorry to bother you just up late sculpting and didn't think twice thought I was helping


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[Mermaid Fenicia]

That's ok, Marinus ;)

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Pinning the front is done.
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And gluing has started ;)
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[Marinus Mortimer]

Pictures aren't showing up


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[Mermaid Fenicia]

strange as they show up here on my pc (firefox) and on my phone (chrome).

[Marinus Mortimer]

Then I don't know I when on safari and nothing comes up there maybe... op never mind they just popped up nice work I love that purple btw :swoon:


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[Mermaid Fenicia]

Thanks Marinus :)

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Today I finally had some time to glue some more scales/hearts. And tomorrow I will be adding the pink ones ;)
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[Aurelian]

:jawdrop: It's so pretty! :swoon:

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Thanks, Aurora :)

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Pink has been added until I've run out of the purple, so I made some more hearts so I can glue some more scales tomorrow ;)
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[Rett]

So pretty! I noticed the horizontal placement of the scales in those pics earlier too, and actually though it looked pretty neat.

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Thank you Rett :)

[Mermaid Fenicia]

More scale have been added, until I've run out of dark pink, so I made some more to add on Monday ;)
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[Mermaid Fenicia]

Almost there for the front :) Hopeful I can finish it tomorrow so I can start on pinning the back on Wednesday ;)
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[Mermaid Fenicia]

Front part is done and I started pinning the back ;)
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[Mermaid Lilija]

Drooling over the colors! It looks cute! :jawdrop:
:swoon:

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Thanks Lilija ;)

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Today I started 'gluing' the back of this tail and a few hours later it was all done :) Still have to do the sides and make the fluke, then I have to finish it of with a 'slime coat' with fine iridescent glitter ;)
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[deepblue]

It's looking really nice! The colors are lovely together. :)

[Mermaid Fenicia]

1 side is done ;)
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[LeeniusUnicorn]

The are gorgeous! Very lovely! Saw your photos in the photo shot form, they look great! This new tail for your friend is looking awesome, love the colors!


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[Ashton]

looks great so far!

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Added the glitter/slimcoat on both back and front. ;)
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close up on the glitter:
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[MermaidBrandie]

YAY

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[Ashton]

I love that you can see shadows of the top curve of the hearts. They remind me of hidden Mickey's but instead of Mickey's head you have hidden hearts all over your tail

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Thanks, Brandie and Ashton :)

[Mermaid Fenicia]

This week is fluke-making time ;)
- made a template
- put the template under a layer of clingfoil
- added the iridescent fabric on top of it all
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- start layering pre-colored silicone
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[Mermaid Wesley]

Lovely shape!

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Thanks Wesley :)
Today I've added more layers with all the colors needed :)
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[Khaleesi Daenerys]

Looking good love the colors too. :)

[merwandering]

Waaaaaait. You are just- making a fluke without sculpting by....layers of silicone on the fabric....
is that a thing?? If it's your idea- may I have your permission to use it? I am DYING TO MAKE A PEACOCK FLUKE and haven't brought myself to sculpt it in a year but I COULD DO THAT like today.
TODAY.
which would probably be te very worst thing, given all I need to get done. But who needs sleep.
Omg.
I think I might pass out.

[The Water Phoenix]

Waaaaaait. You are just- making a fluke without sculpting by....layers of silicone on the fabric....
is that a thing?? If it's your idea- may I have your permission to use it? I am DYING TO MAKE A PEACOCK FLUKE and haven't brought myself to sculpt it in a year but I COULD DO THAT like today.
TODAY.
which would probably be te very worst thing, given all I need to get done. But who needs sleep.
Omg.
I think I might pass out.
It is a thing :) Mermaid Momo sculpts her flukes entirely out of silicone on fabric and they are absolutely gorgeous!

[Mermaid Fenicia]

As I use dragonskin silicone, I can't have any relief as dragonskin is self-leveling. So the fluke that I make are very smooth.
And yes Merwandering, you can use this method if you want a smooth fluke or fin.
I also use this method to keep my tail (the yellow one) light in weight as I have a lot of pain in my legs and almost no strength to lift them. (I can walk but only for a short distance). As my friend liked my fluke she also wanted it made that way.

[Mermaid Fenicia]

front of the fluke is done (5 layers of pre-colored silicone)
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I started at the back of the fluke now (will be a little darker then the front)
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[LauraLagune]

What fabric are you using as a base if you don't mind? It looks like a spandex type material I think

[Mermaid Fenicia]

For the base of the skirt-part I use Lycra and for the fluke I use iridescent organza. ;)

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Next step is done, I sandwiched the monofin (and extention) between the 2 fluke-halfs and 'glued' the sides.
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[Marinus Mortimer]

Question and you may have answered it already but why did you decide on this method rather than sculpting a 3D fluke ?


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[Mermaid Fenicia]

3 reasons:
1. I'm not good at sculpting big things
2. I needed my fluke as light/thin a possible
3. I don't have the space to put big molds

[Marinus Mortimer]

Oh i see good points! I always wondered seeing the awesome tails youve made why not the fluke but your right sculpting a fluke is a lot of work!


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[Mermaid Wesley]

Awesome!!!!


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[PearlieMae]

Ooooh! I love that idea!

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Thanks Wesley and PearlyMae :)

[H-SAMA]

3 reasons:
1. I'm not good at sculpting big things
2. I needed my fluke as light/thin a possible
3. I don't have the space to put big molds

I am loving it! really inventive and the result is gorgeous!

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Thanks, H-sama

[Mermaid Tihocan]

Mermaid Fenicia this is absolutely amazing !!! You're doing such a great job, congratulations ! I'm interested in making myself a silicone tail soon. I live in Switzerland and it is really hard and expensive to get all the material. Great that you found everything from Belgium.

I think I'll be inspired by your topic to create my fluke. I am bad at scuplting too and also don't have much space here for big molds.

I really enjoy reading your next tailmaking posts. :D

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Finally some updates on the tail that I'm making ;)
- ribs are 'glued' on the fluke on the top-side
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- trimmed the sides of the fluke and added the trims on the back-side
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- trimmed the bottom and 'glued' it shut but left some openings for the water to pass when swimming (used bubba-straws as spacers)
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- fluke ready to be attached to the tail-body ;)

[PearlieMae]

Such beautiful colors! Like candy!

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Thank you, PearlieMae :)

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Today I added the fluke to the body of the tail ;)
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And the tail is done :)
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Tomorrow I'm going to make a matching top ;)

[Ashton]

woohoo! photoshoot time!

[Mermaid Mia]

Its so beautiful!


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[Mermaid Fenicia]

Thanks Ashton and Mia. :) If the weather is good on Saturday, will do a photoshoot ;)

[deepblue]

Really pretty, Fenicia!
I'm using heart shaped scales, too, it's nice to see how lovely they can look when laid out. :) I love the pattern and colors on yours. Looking forward to the photoshoot!

[moomer]

That fluke is amazing!!! I love the 'ribs' you added. It looks sexy as hell!
And that colour choice is so pretty. 😄

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[Mermaid Fenicia]

Thank you deepblue and moomer :)

[Mermaid Kassandra]

I can't believe I missed this!
You made a true piece of art and choosing a heart for the scales shape is really awesome!

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Thanks Kassandra :)

[Mermaid Kassandra]

Thanks Kassandra :)
You're welcome! Do you plan to have some photo shooting for this tail? Because I'm very curious about how it will look once worn!

[Mermaid Fenicia]

@Kassandra: If the weather is good on Saturday, will do a photoshoot ;)
Tail is done and ready for the photoshoot (if the weather is nice) ;)
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Making of the top ;)
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And matching top is done ;)
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[Ashton]

so cute! you are going to look like a valentines day mermaid card!

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Thanks Ashton, but I made this tail for a very good friend ;)

[Mermaid Fenicia]

As we had a very busy day (and the beach was to crowded) we did a little shoot at home ;)
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[Ashton]

I love how the pink hair matches the tail!
Forgive me for my ignorance but- is this a cosplay? (the mask confuses me a bit)

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Thanks Ashton, and yes this is a kind of cosplay (normal used for stage-performance) ;)

[Ashton]

Thanks Ashton, and yes this is a kind of cosplay (normal used for stage-performance) ;)
Ohh, ok, cool! I just have never seen those kinds of masks before. I would love to know what character she is. :)

[Mermaid Fenicia]

She's just an OC called Matsuri ;)

[Ashton]

She's just an OC called Matsuri ;)
Neat!